Edition One
As a part of Project Zuv, I am hosting an event which would include discussions on Kashmir, its culture, and its people. Through these discussions I want to open the gates to our past, our present and what the future has in store for us. These conversations would be in a group or one-on-one format, lasting 30-45 minutes.
I will have these conversations digitally stored on the Project Zuv website and our YouTube channel. This is the first series of conversations, and I will keep doing more and more of these conversations with community members and digitize them.
Edition One Conversations
Our Past, Present & Future. Where do we stand as a community.
Kashmiri Pandits - A Way of Life. Can We Preserve It?
Travels & Temples of Kashmir.
Generation - Post Migration
SPEAKERS & GUESTS
RAHUL PANDITA
Rahul Pandita is a journalist and an author based in Delhi. He is a 2015 Yale World Fellow. He has also authored The Lover Boy of Bahawalpur: How the Pulwama Case was Cracked; Our Moon has Blood Clots: A memoir of a Lost Home in Kashmir; Hello, Bastar: The Untold Story of India's Maoist Movement and co-authored The Absent State. He has extensively reported from war zones, including Iraq and Sri Lanka. In 2010, he was awarded the International Red Cross Award for conflict reporting.
Rahul is also the co-writer of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 2020 film, Shikara.
NAMRATA WAKHLOO
Namrata Wakhloo is a Kashmiri author, photographer, and cultural preservationist. Passionate about her heritage, she has extensively documented Kashmir's rich history and spiritual legacy. Some of her notable works are her book titled Temples of Medieval Kashmir and Temples of Ancient Kashmir, both exploring Kashmir’s temples, delving into the region's architectural and cultural splendor. Her deep connection to her homeland, despite living outside Kashmir, has inspired her to capture and preserve its unique stories.
Namrata actively works to ensure that Kashmiri traditions, including its cultural and spiritual practices, are passed onto the next generation, documenting various aspects of Kashmir on her blog.
RAJESH RAINA
Rajesh Raina is an award-winning broadcast journalist with over two decades of experience in the media industry. He has held leadership positions, including Group Editor at News18, where he guided the editorial direction of ETV News channels. Mr. Raina was instrumental in shaping ETV’s regional news strategy and launched a daily bulletin for Jammu & Kashmir, amplifying local voices on a national platform.
A poet and storyteller at heart, Mr. Raina has earned numerous accolades for his contributions to journalism, both in India and internationally. Originally from Anantnag, he now resides with his family in Hyderabad.
GIRJA WATTAL KHASHU
Girija Watta Khashu is a celebrated radio broadcaster and a theatre personality. Girija’s voice resonated with thousands, for years. Her expertise in storytelling, impeccable timing, and mastery of the medium, made her into a household name in Kashmir.
In addition to her on-air work, Girija became a public figure, making appearances at events, hosting awards, and engaging with her audience. She is also the receipient of many accolades for her contributions to broadcasting. Her voice, in many ways, becomes part of the cultural fabric of the Kashmir, leaving an indelible impact on the world of radio.
NEERAJ BAKSHI
Neeraj Bakshi is a distinguished Kashmiri artist whose work delves into themes of displacement, nostalgia, and the universal human struggle. Born in 1969, Mr. Bakshi earned his BFA in Painting from the University of Kashmir in 1992. His art, characterized by intricate small-format creations, often features metaphorical depictions of animals set against nostalgic landscapes, reflecting his personal experience of displacement as a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
With over 30 national and international group exhibitions to his name, Mr. Bakshi’s works have been showcased at prestigious venues such as the India International Centre and Triveni Kala Sangam in New Delhi. His celebrated series Dreaming Animals explores global themes of violence and ecological destruction while resonating with personal stories of exile and survival.
NALINI SADHU
Nalini Moti Sadhu is a prominent figure in the Kashmiri culinary space, celebrated for her dedication to Kashmiri cuisine and cultural heritage. As the founder of Matamaal and an award-winning chef, she has been instrumental in elevating Kashmiri cuisine to new heights. Her numerous accolades, including being recognised as an MSME 'Emerging Woman Entrepreneur' in 2022, TIMES FOOD AWARDS from 2017 to 2024, highlight her profound passion for food and hospitality. This passion, inherited from her mother and grandmother, has deeply influenced her approach to cooking and her love for food and hospitality.
Through her work, Nalini Sadhu has not only brought the rich flavours of Kashmir to the forefront but has also celebrated the cultural festivals and traditions that define Kashmiri heritage. Her journey is a testament to her deep-rooted love for the cuisine and her tireless efforts to preserve and share the cultural essence of the valley.